Bag closing machine



Jan, 13, 1953 H. G. ALLEN BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1948 3Sheets-Sheet 1 se e@ sa es INVENTOR. Hou/0rd G. /1//6/7 Mvm.

1m 139 1953 H. ALLEN 2,624,995

BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2V :se se se89,35 6,1

jan. 13, 1953 H. G. .ALLEN BAG CLOSING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJune 11, 1948 ON ON mN NN @DTN w. n@ d w .W H

Patented Jan. 13, 1953 BAG CLOSING MACHINE Howard G'. Allen, NiagaraFalIs, N'. `assignm" to Savannah Sugar Refining Corporatibm Sa-` vannah,Ga.

Apparat-inn June 11, 194s, serial No. 32,332.

(ci. 5a142 5 Claims.

means, for continuously receiving paper bags or like. receptacleswhichhavepreviouslybeen lled with material and tucking in the end wallsand simultaneously folding the front and back wall of the bag over thetop of the contents of) the bag, the bag being delivered with theremainingA upper portions of the front and back ofthe bag extendingvertically above the lled portion of `the bag folded substantially at.against each other, the bag being thus. preliminarily closed.

The operation of the apparatus of. the present invention ends withdelivery of. the' bag thus closed and is not concerned with] thesubsequent folding or wrapping and sealing. of the top of the bag. Thethus closed bags maybe iinallyfolded or wrapped and sealed or tied byother automatic machinery with which` the. present' invention is notconcerned, or. this subsequent treatmentof the containers or bags may beperformed wholly or in part by hand, insofar as the present invention isconcerned.

The principles of the present invention aswell as thevarious objects andadvantages thereof will best be understood from a. consideration of thefollowing detailed description,. taken in conjunctionfwith theaccompanying drawings whereinone 'form of the invention is s et forth.by way of example. It is to be understood.. however, that the inventionis not limited to the` precise form shown and that various mechanicalmodications be made without departing from the, spiritv of theinvention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

In. the drawings:

Eig. 1 is a side elevational view ofy one form of the bag tucking andclosing apparatus of the present invention with the parts illustrated inthe position they assume just after a properly tucked and closed bag hasbeen delivered therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.. l but. with the parts in the positionthey occupy after the. cycle of operation of tucking and closing a baghas Ajust begun;

Fig. 3 is a iront elevational view of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2with the parts shown in the `position of operation illustrated in Eig.2;

Fig. 4. is a top plan view showing schematically the. bag ducking and;closing implements. in their relative; pcsiticns.; at vthe beginning of.a bag .closing and; tucking cycle;

2. Fia ,5 is, a View. Similar? w 4.- bfui .Shaving the parts in a more;advanced position of' thetuclr-v ing-v and. closing. cycle;l

Fig- 6i is@ .viav- Similar' Fiss 4i .and 5.51.1@ with the. llafrts` in4the' position occupynear' the. close. of a, tucking.; and closing cycle;Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevational viewshowing. schematicallyaconveyorline and a bag tuck#-4 ing and closing sta-tion therealon-g.the' tucking and closing apparatus having just delivered a pair. oficlosed. bags. and; being inthe:l process. of' receiving a. subsequentpair of. filled bags-.for tft-ick-v ing and closing ;v ,I

Fig.v 8 isa schematic end elevational' vivvof thev apparatus. ofjFig,7;; l l t y Fig. 9V is a. view similar `tot F'gg.. 7' but showing thetucking and closing implements in engage'- ment with a pair o f bags inthe process. or tuck'- ing and closing them; t

Fig. 10 is a schematic endelevational view!- of the. apparatus ofj Fig.11 isla view similar td Figs. 'irland' @but wherein a pair o f bags.have just. been. tucked and closed and are ready to.. beAv movedQ outdfi the tucking, and closingl station and y Fig. 12 is a. schematic endelevati'onalv vieta of the apparatus of. Fig: 11. v l

It. will be noted from a. casual inspection off Figs. 7 through 12 thatthe apparatus; there Sh contemplates a simultaneous: tucking andiclosure of pairs of bags.. but this involves merelytlie duplication of4the tucking and; closing instrumenr talities and for simplicityofjillustrationth detailed views, Figs; 1.A v2. and 3, show apAV forclosing. and tuckng a. single bag-,1 Athe pr ciplesv employed beingl thesamev in; bo C To facilitate ready understanding o rtl'ievdetailedapparatus illustratedin Figs,f1 2g a it will probably b'e best to referrst tothe matic top plan views, Figs. 4;,l 5. land whio s schematicallythe succession of' eps" in a bag tucking and closing; cy v Referring toEig. 4, the numr lled paper bag wit-hits top' op i merals 2l .and 22designate.' a ing paddles which havey j ust b cennf fied top of the bag,the paddles atthe time; of i y tion beingdisposed closer to eacliathenthan the normal full open width. of the bag top to fac l'te andinsureproper insertion despite hel pssrbxhty of. the top of the bag beingnct fil c Fig-.5 .Showsnrhe paca-1.a .2f sequent position where thV to`spread and square the' u n the. 'bag and, iiiieeessjfgy; carl thepasaran of the bag against minor dislocation. In Fig. 5, also, a pair ofside creasing blades or fingers 24 and 25 have moved from the positionof Fig. 4 to a position against the sides of the bag ready to begin theside tucking operation. In Fig. 5 a pair of bag holding bars 26 and 21have moved from the spread position of Fig. 4 to a position where theyare against the front and back walls of the bag at a point just abovethe contents thereof and just below the lower edges of the spreadingpaddles 2| and 22.

From this point on the spreading paddles 2| and 22, the side tuckingfingers 24 and 25, and the bag holding bars 26 and 21 all movesimultaneously toward each other in timed relation to tuck the sides ofthe bag as illustrated in Fig. 6 and wrap the portions of the front andback walls of the bag which are immediately above the contents of thebag over the contents, the remaining upper part of the bag being in flatfolded condition as indicated in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. l, the numerals 30 and 3| designate a pair of sideframe members which may be supported upon and fixed relative to asupporting tube 32 by means of clamping caps 33, the tube 32 beingsupported in any desired manner.

The spreading paddles 2| .and 22 and the side tucking fingers 24 and 25of the apparatus are supported from a vertically movable head element 35which has parallel link connection with frame elements 30 and 3| bymeans of upper and` lower links 36 and 31 which are bifurcated at theirfront and rear ends for pivotal connection to the frame elements 30 and3| and head element 35. `By reason of this parallel link connection, upand down movement of head element 35 may be effected without alteringthe vertical attitude of the head element and the variousinstrumentalities associated therewith.

Lower link 31 is pivotally attached to frame .members 36 and 3| by meansof a rock shaft ,40 to which the spaced bearings at the rear end of link31 are fixed. Between frame elements I,30 and 3|., rock shaft 40 carriesa cam follower arm 4| which has a cam follower 42 at its outer end forengagement with a lifting cam 43 for .lifting head element 35.` TheWeight of the head element and the various parts supported therebybiases links 36 and 31 downwardly to keep cam follower 42 in engagementwith cam 43. In Fig. 1 the head element is shown in its raised positionand in Fig. 2. the head element has just reached its lower-mostposition. Cam 43 is fixed to a drive shaft 45 which may be journaled inside frame members 30 and 3l and may be driven in any desired manner(not shown). In Figs. 1 and 2 the rotation of -shaft 45 iscounterclockwise.

The construction and operation of the bag top spreading paddles willnowbe described. The spreading paddles have previously been designated 2|and 22 in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and that designation is retained in Figs.l, 2, and 3. Paddles 2| and 22 extend downwardly from and are xed tobrackets 48 and 49, respectively. Bracket 48 is connected to headelement 35 by means of pairs of upper and lower parallel links 50 and5|, respectively, pivoted to a bracket 52 formed.

upper links 50 and 53 are pivoted to the brackets f 52 and 55 of headelement 35 by means of rock 4 shafts 56 and 51, respectively, and theserock shafts have arms 58 and 59 fixed thereto.

The numeral 60 designates a rock shaft journaled in head element 35 andhaving a pair of forwardly extending arms 6| and 62 fixed thereto. Arm6| has a depending link 64 pivoted to its outer end which extendsdownwardly to pivotal engagement with the outer end of arm 58 and arm 62is similarly connected to the outer end of arm 59 by means of a link 65.It will be seen from the foregoing that clockwise movement of' rockshaft 60 will lower links 64 and 65 and thus pivot the links 50 and 53apart to spread paddles 2| and 22 without disturbing their parallelism.

Rock shaft 69 also carries an operating arm 68 which is fixed theretoand pivotally engages one end of a link 69 at its lower end. The otherend of link 69 pivotally engages the outer end of an arm 10 which isfixed to a rock shaft 1|, the latter having also fixed thereto a camfollower arm 12 which has a cam follower 13 at its outer end forengagement with a paddle operating cam 15. As shown in Fig. l, follower13 is in a position where it is just leaving the highest part of cam 15.

The contour of cam 15 is such that paddles 2| and 22, beginning with theposition illustrated in Fig. l, will move to a mid-position betweentheir fully spread and fully closed position and dwell in suchmid-position, as indicated in Fig. 4, until they begin to enter a bagduring lowering movement of head element 35. Follower 13 is urgedresiliently toward cam 15 by an extension coil spring 16 which isanchored at its left end, as viewed in Figs. l and 2, to frame member 36and at its right end to link 69.

The construction and operation of the blades or fingers for creasing andtucking the side walls of the bag, previously designated 24 and 25, andtheir mounting and operating instrumentalities willnow be described.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the finger 24 is mounted from a flangeof head element 35 by means of pivoted links 8| and 82 and finger 25 issupported from a flange 83 of head element 35 by means of -a pair ofpivoted links 85 and 86. This construction maintains a generally erectattitude of the fingers 24 and 25 during their opening and closingmovements. A finger' operating rock shaft is designated 88 in Fig. 3 andserves also as the means for pivotally connecting the spaced bearings ofupper link 36 with head element 35. Rock shaft 86 has fixed thereto apair of forwardly projecting arms 89 and 90 which loosely engage theupper ends of links 9| and 92, the lower ends of the latter beingpivotally attached to the upper ends of fingers 24 and 25 as at 93 and94, respectively.

Also fixed to rock shaft 88 is an operating arm 93 and arm 96 pivotallyconnects at its lower end with the bifurcated forward end of -a link 91,the other 4end of the latter being pivotally connected to the outer endof a rock arm 98 fixed to a rock shaft 99 journaled in the side framemembers 30 and 3|. Also fixed to rock shaft 99 is a cam follower arm |00having a cam follower |0| for engagement with a finger operating cam|02. As shown in Fig. l, follower |0| is just reaching its lowestposition on cam |02, in which position the fingers 24 and 25 are spreadtheir maximum distance. In Figs. 2 and 3 the fingers are moving towardeach other by reason of downward movement of links 9| and 92, thecontour of cam |02 rising in-this phase of operation. Fingers 24 and 25are resiliently urged to an open position andv follower' |0|. isv urged`toward cam |.02 by' an extension coil springV |03 which engageslink 91at itsy leftv end as viewed. in Figs. l and. 2V and is anchoredr at itsright end to head element 35.

The principal remaining operating parts. of theA apparatus beingvdescribed are the bars 23 and 21 for wrapping the front and back wall ofthe bag. over the top of the contents and for holding the bag closeduntil they reach other holding means outside the range of operation ofthe bag tucking and. closing mechanism per` se. This portion` of themechanism is not supported for. movement up and down with head element35 but. is carried directly from the frame elements. 30 and 3| by meansof arms |04 andV |05, the latter each having spaced pivot pins |01 and|08 near their outer ends for supporting pairs of arms |09 and H0between which the holding bars 26 and 21 extend.

A holding bar operating cam is designated H4 in Figs. 1 and 2 and actsupon a follower H5 carried by a follower arm H0 fixed toa rock shaft |1vextending between the side frame members 30 and 3|. Rock shaft H1further carries adjacent its outer ends a pair of upwardly eX- tendingarms H8 which pivotally engage a pair of links |20 and |2|. The forwardend of link |20 is pivoted to an upward extension |22 of one of theAarms |00 which support bar 20. The link |2| is pivoted at its forwardend to one of the arms H0 at the opposite side of frame members 30 and3| at a point below the pivotal supports |08 of arms H0. An extensioncoil spring |24 is anchored at its right end, as viewed in Figs. 1 and2, to the xed arm |04 and at its left end it. engages link |20 to urgeit in a forward holderopening direction, link |2| being urgedresiliently forwardly along with link |20.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a fall in the contour of cam H4will cause rock shaft H1 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed inFigs. 1 and 2 and will project the links |20 and |2| resilientlyforwardly. This will cause bars 2B and 21 to move apart from theposition illustrated in Fig. l. In Fig. 2 the profile of cam H4 isrising and accordingly the holding bars 26 and 21 are moving toward eachother.

To assist in following the cam profiles in Figs.

l and 2 it may be stated that, as there shown,

holder cam H4 is in theV foreground, side nger cam'. |02 is next behind,lift cam 43 is behind nger cam |02, and paddle cam 15 is in thebackground.

A full cycle of operation of the apparatus of Figs. l through 3 will nowbe described, beginning with the mechanism in the position illustratedin Fig. 1. As there shown, a complete tucking and closing operation hasjust been completed and a tucked and closed bag is readyv to be moved orhas just moved from the region of the tucking and closing mechanism andholding bars 26 and 21 have not yet separated for the receptionof asubsequent bag. Head element 35 is raised in Fig. l, the spreadingpaddles 2| and 22 `are' at their closest relative positions, andside'tucking fingers 24 and 25 have just reached their fully separatedpositions.

At this point the lift cam 43, the side finger cam |02, and the holdingbar cam H4 are all operating. through dwell portions, and paddle cam 15begins to fallv off to an intermediate dwell portion where theV paddlesare partly separated, approximately" as. illustrated. in Fig..- 4..Afterthe paddles have reached this intermediate-position Y6 and are.arrested in. such. position. the holding bars 20 and 21 mdvev tof fullopen position` by reason of the engagement; ofY follower H5 with thefalling contour of. cam H4 and a low dwell portion of cam H4 permitssprings. |24 to hold the holdingbars apart for a predetermined periodaccording to the extent of such low dwell portion.

As soon asA holder bars 20 and. 21 are open, a filled bag may be movedtherebetween by' any suitable conveying means and at. this point cam 43falls oif to permit the head element. 35 to descend and project thepartly open spreading paddles 2| and 22. into the open mouth or top ofthe bag. Before the paddles are fully inserted they begin to spread tofull' open position since the intermediate dwell of cam 1.5 then. endsand its contour again falls. to a lowestdwell portion wherein thepaddles are fully spread andr fully inserted.

Just' prior to full spreading and. insertion of the paddles in theforegoing manner; tucking fingers 24 and 25 begin to close and theyreach the partly tucking position shown in Fig 3 prior to the beginningof the rise in the contour of cam which forces the paddles 2|.A and 22together. By virtue of this timing the side fingers 24,v and 25positively tuck thev sides ofthe bag against the spring resistance ofthe paddle spreading spring 15. This causes follower 153 of the paddlecontrol cam 15 to leave the cam because. ofl the-late timing of the riseon cam 15.

The actual tucking operationis thus performed with the tucking fingers24 and 25 moving inwardly positively and the paddles 2| andv 22resisting such movement resiliently by means of the spring 10. Theresilient urge of spring 16 is, of course, low enough to permit thetucking' fingers to pull the paddles resiliently toward each other andthus perform the tucking operation with the bag held taut by spring 16.This mode of operation also eliminates any need for critical timing ofthe cams 15 and |02 during the tucking and closingv phase of operation.

The rise in the contour of cam H4 which causes holding bars 264 andl 21to close coincides with the closing or tucking movement of fingers 24andv 25 as established by the rise in the contour of cam |02, so thatbars 25 and 21 move inwardly against the front and back of the bagsimultaneously with ther tucking operation -to fold the front and backof the bag over the top of its contentsy the remainder of the. upper endof the bag being held finally between holdingI bars and 21 as shown inFig. 12.

At `this time the rise in the contour of cam- 43 lifts head element 35and withdraws the paddles 2| and 22 andthe tucking iingers 24 and'25upwardly until they are entirely clear of the bag, the holding bars 25and 21 remaining closed to hold the bag in tucked and closed positionuntil it is moved from Ithe tucking and closing apparatus.

Reference will now be had to Figs. 7 through 12 and, referringspecifically to Fig. 1,y a pair of bags 20 are shown being moved frombetween holding bars 26 and 21 by movement of a conveyor belt |30 uponwhich the bags rest. Immediately upon leaving their positions betweenbars 20 and. 21 the tucked and closed tops of bags 20 pass-betweenclosely spaced rails i3! which replace bars 20 and 21 in holdingl thebag tops tucked and closed. To facilitate movement of the bags frombetween bars 26 and 21 toa position between rails |.3J|, the; entranceends of the latter may-'be flared as in Figs. 7' and 8. In the positionof Fig.

7 7 paddles 2| and 22 and side tucking iingers 24 and are in theirraised positions.

So far as the principles of the present invention are concerned, whichprinciples involve merely the bag tucking and closing apparatus per se,it may be assumed that conveyor belt operates intermittently, moving apair of bags to the tucking and closing position and then stopping Whilethat operation takes place. Actually, the entire tucking and foldingapparatus is mounted for movement in the same direction as in timedrelation with belt |30 and for retrograde movement to a startingposition. The tucking and closing operation is performed withoutinterruption of the conveyor belt |30 and bags 20 during the forwardmovement of the entire tucking and closing apparatus. Since no claim ismade to this renement of the apparatus, no further reference will bemade thereto and the foregoing description presupposes that the conveyorbelt |30 stops for the tucking and folding operation, merely for thesake of simplicity of understanding, either mode of operation beingfeasible.

At a time between the positions illustrated in Figs. 7 and 9 the holdingbars 2S and 21 open and a subsequent pair of bags is moved into thetucking and folding position by the conveyor belt |30 and the headelement to begin the tucking and folding operation. Figs. 9 and 10indicate the same approximate position of parts as Figs. 2 and 3. Figs.11 and 12 indicate the relative positions of parts immediately at theconclusion of a bag tucking and closing cycle, after head element hasraised and before the tucked and closed bags have begun to move topositions between rails |3|. The tucking and folding parts in Figs. 11and 12 are in substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

1. Bag tucking and closing apparatus comprising a pair of generallyparallel relatively nat bag spreading elements of substantially the samewidth as the bag and insertable in the open top of a bag and movabletoward and away from each other atwise, a pair of bag tucking bladesdisposed in a common plane extending between said spreading elements andgenerally parallel thereto, said blades being movable toward and awayfrom each other edgewise, resilient means for urging the spreadingelements away from each other and other means for moving the spreadingelements toward each other against the urge of the resilient means topermit insertion of the spreading elements in the top of a bag, saidresilient means being subsequently operative to move the spreadingelements away from each other in the top of the bag to spread and squarethe same, and means for subsequently moving the tucking blades towardeach other whereby the tucking blades move against the sides of the bagto tuck the same between the front and back of the bag to tuck and closethe same over the bag contents.

2. Bag tucking and closing apparatus comprising a pair of generallyparallel relatively iiat bag spreading elements insertable in the opentop of a bag and movable toward and away from each other flatwise, apair of bag tucking blades disposed in a common plane extending betweensaid spreading elements and generally parallel thereto, said bladesbeing movable toward and away from each other edgewise, resilient meansfor urging the spreading elements away from each other and other meansfor moving the spreading elements toward each other against the urge ofthe resilient means to permit insertion of the spreading elements in thetop of a bag, said resilient means being subsequently operative in thetop of the bag to spread and square the same. and means for subsequentlymoving the tucking blades and the spreading elements both toward eachother in timed relation whereby the tucking blades move against thesides of the bag to tuck the same between the front and back of the bagto tuck and close the same over the bag contents.

3. Bag tucking and closing apparatus comprising a pair of generallyparallel rela-tively flat bag spreading elements insertable in the opentop of a bag and movable toward and away from each other flatwise, apair of bag tucking blades disposed in a common plane extending betweensaid spreading elements and generally parallel thereto, said bladesbeing movable toward and away from each other edgewise, resilientmeansfor urging the spreading elements away from each other and other meansfor moving the spreading elements toward each other against the urge ofthe resilient means to permit insertion of the spreading elements in thetop of a bag, said resilient means being subsequently operative in thetop of the bag to spread and square the same, and means for subsequentlymoving the tucking blades and the spreading elements both toward eachother in timed relation whereby the tucking blades move against thesides of the bag to tuck the same between the front and back of the bag,and a pair of spaced bars parallel to the spreading elements and movabletoward each other against the outside of the front and back of the bagjust above the contents thereof to close the same over the bag contents.

4. Bag tucking and closing apparatus comprising a pair of generallyparallel relatively flat bag spreading elements insertable in the opentop of a bag and movable toward and away from each other atwise, a pairof bag tucking blades clisposed in a common plane extending between saidspreading elements and generally parallel thereto, said blades beingmovable toward and away from each other edgewise, resilient means forurging the spreading elements away from each other and other means formoving the spreading' elements toward each other against the urge oi'the resilient means to permit insertion of the spreading elements in thetop of a bag, said resilient means being subsequently operative in thetop of the bag to spread and square the same, and means for subsequentlymoving the tucking blades and the spreading elements both toward eachother in timed relation whereby the tucking blades move against thesides of the bag to tuck the same between the front and back of the bag.a pair of spaced bars parallel to the spreading elements and movabletoward each other against the outside of the front and back of the bagjust above the contents thereof to close the same over the bag contents,and means for raising the spreading elements and the tucking blades towithdraw them clear of the top of the bag. 5. Bag tucking and closingapparatus comprising a pair of generally parallel relatively flat bag.rspreading elements insertable in the op-en top of a bag and movabletoward and away from each other atwise, apair of bag tucking bladesdisposed in a common plane extending between said spreading elements andgenerally parallel thereto, said blades being movable toward and awayfrom each other edgewise, resilient means for urging the spreadingelements away from each other and other means for moving the spreadingelements toward each other against the urge of the resilient means topermit insertion of the spreading elements in the top of the bag, saidresilientl means being subsequently operative in the top of the bag tospread and square the same, and means for subsequently moving thetucking blades and the spreading elements both toward each other intimed relation whereby the tucking blades move against the sides of thebag to tuck the same between the front and back of 10 the bag to closethe same over the bag contents, and means for raising the spreadingelements and the tucking blades to Withdraw them clear of the top of thebag.

HOWARD G. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,979,496 Schilbach Nov. 6, 193%2,083,067 James June 8, 1937 2,257,777 Anderson Oct. 7, 1941 2,327,267Howard Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 473,664 GreatBritain Oct. 18, 1937

